Friday, May 26, 2017

Family, Faucets & Chipped Pottery: Celebrate the Small Things

Pottery - Kota Bharu, Malaysia
(personal collection, s.himsl)
Celebrating .....
  • My biggest celebration this week was receiving a mock up of my novel's book cover. I love it!! But I'm saving it for a Big Cover Reveal, in the next week or so. Some of you saw it on FB, but I need to write up an official press release. I've been so busy this week. Why is it when things happen, good or bad, they all happen at once?
  • Spent six days with my mother, who recently fell and broke an arm. She's 92. A bit touch and go at times, but she's definitely on the mend. Also typed up her hand-written story, Forgotten Village. About 3000 words so far. She now has a typed copy to edit when she's feeling better. Pretty cool. My sister-in-law has been the main caregiver (she's an angel), as the family is doing this without the cost of a nursing home.  
  • Outside faucets back at home working again. So glad we hired someone to crawl under the house to check. He found lots of rabbit droppings, which could account for the funky odor we noticed in one of our closets. He's going to seal all of the outside entry points. I guess I should be happy he didn't find snake skins and rat droppings! Spiders yes, but those we can spray for.  
  • The Pacific Northwest was in its glory this week. On the west side, in the 70s, everything is blooming. Our place on the east side is warm and perfect for outdoor sitting. 

Some more Object Flash Fiction....


"Broken Pottery"

   Annie ran after her husband as he backed the truck down the driveway, waving her arms like a crazy woman. "Wait John, you took the wrong box."
    John stopped the truck and rolled down the window. "Crap, Annie. We have enough junk already." Grumbling inside, he stepped out of the truck. Ten minutes more and he would have made it to the Goodwill dumping station.
    Annie frowned. "You took the Malaysia box. I wanted this to go in the storage bin." She was already holding the box with the pottery they had purchased in Kota Bharu. The one piece with the chipped edge had once been perfect, but less than perfect made it all the more desirable.
    John gave a short, knowing nod. There was no debate. Malaysia had changed their lives, redefined everything they had valued in life up to that point. Marriage and raising children had nearly been the end of them. They had been close to a parting of the ways. The too young couple from Missoula with working class roots were about to prove the naysayers right. The marriage would fail. 

Then came the opportunity to work in Malaysia for a year, a strange twist of fate, a coming together of events, they never could have invented in their wildest dreams. They grabbed hold and went on an adventure. 

When they returned, they were grounded again as a couple, filled with dreams for the future. No, the Malaysia box with the chipped pottery would definitely stay. 



Wishing you a pleasant weekend! 

  
"Come celebrate with us"
 
To join "Celebrate the Small Things, visit Lexa Cain's blog
Co-hosts are: L.G. Keltner @ Writing Off The Edge
Tonja Drecker @ Kidbits Blog




Sharon M. Himsl

Writer/Author. Blogging since 2011. 
Published with Evernight Teen: 
~~The Shells of Mersing

25 comments:

  1. I look forward to see your book cover, it's always exciting when you see it for the first time. I wish you well with your book.

    Yvonne.

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  2. Congratulations on your book cover. Times like that are thrilling for sure. Glad you got the repairs done too Enjoy the weekend.

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    1. Thank you. Sure hope it all comes together. Lots to do promoting a book!
      Those repairs are a huge relief :)

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  3. Glad to hear your mother's recovering! And oh, how exciting that you've seen your book's cover already! Looking forward to its reveal...

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    1. The pain has been tough, but she's definitely better today. Thanks. Excited to share my cover! The artist is to be commended.

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  4. Sounds like you have plenty to celebrate! And well done for the flash fiction.

    Looking forward to seeing your cover.
    On Some Visual(King)Arthurs

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    1. Thanks, Sue. Can't wait to share my new cover with you!

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  5. Aww. I really like your flash fic! I'm glad you like your new cover. I'm looking forward to seeing it soon. Have a great weekend!

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    1. Oh, glad you liked. These are fun to write :) Can't wait to share the cover! Thanks, Lexa!

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  6. Exciting times re cover. I'm looking forward to seeing it.

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  7. It will be lovely to see the new cover and glad to hear your mother is recovering after her fall. Having family members there to help out is a godsend! Enjoy your weekend :)
    Special Teaching at Pempi’s Palace

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    1. My mother has been a 'rock' in the family. She doesn't lack for love!
      Thanks, I'm looking forward to sharing that cover! Soon!

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  8. Can't wait to see your cover! It's good to hear that your mother is getting better and better, and that the faucets are working again. Have a lovely week!

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  9. Can't wait to see your cover! And glad your mother is getting better.

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  10. Glad to hear your mother is progressing well. A new cover must be exciting to receive, look forward to seeing it.

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    1. Thank you! A lot has happened all at once, but that's so typical of life isn't it?

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  11. Sharon,

    Your mother is a year younger than my FIL. His memory is sharp but his body is frail. It's hard to believe the change in this man from three years ago. That's when his wife passed and since that time he's transformed bodily. It breaks my heart to see these changes in those we love. But hooray for your mama and you got her story recorded. That's a wonderful idea to give her something to preoccupy her mind. I believe the failure of many is the lack of hobbies one has to keep them feeling youthful and alive. I celebrate the longer days. I just love having more sunlight and to see the pink cotton candy clouds against a early evening rich blue sky is always a delight before the curtain of night blankets the sky. It's heating up in the southeast which I do not like but at least we're not too far south. I would not like the exhausting heat and humidity found in Florida. At least, we can escape to the mountains during the summer for refreshing treat. I can't wait to see your new book cover. Have a glorious week and thanks for visiting!

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    1. I lived in Georgia for a year and half once and remember the heat this time of year. I think I prefer a dry climate! My daughter was born there in August and it was sweltering in the heat. Yes, oh my....it IS hard watching those we love age. I agree with you, it has really helped my mother to have something to look forward to. So many lose their purpose in life in old age. My mother never learned to type, so blogging or FB really hasn't been an option, but she love's writing things down on paper....so this idea really worked for her. Thanks, Cathy!

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  12. I can't say I've ever dealt with a problem of rabbits trying to get in. Eat my veggies sure, but never had one try to get in before.

    Also, I hope you mother is feeling better.

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    1. The rabbit problem has been a first for us too. Still waiting for an estimate to fix. The odor is gone but we don't want a rerun. Thanks for visiting!

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  13. Hi Sharon! I've nominated you for the Mystery Blogger Award - check out my post about it here. The Mystery Blogger Award No obligation, of course, but do read my post to see what its about.

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You could call me an eternal optimist, but I'm really just a dreamer. l believe in dream fulfillment, because 'sometimes' dreams come true. This is a blog about my journey as a writer and things that inspire and motivate me.